Acts 19

(1)  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
(2)  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(3)  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(4)  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(5)  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(6)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
(7)  And all the men were about twelve.
(8)  And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
(9)  But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
(10)  And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
(11)  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
(12)  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
(13)  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
(14)  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
(15)  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
(16)  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
(17)  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
(18)  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
(19)  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
(20)  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
(21)  After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
(22)  So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
(23)  And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
(24)  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
(25)  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
(26)  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
(27)  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
(28)  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
(29)  And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
(30)  And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
(31)  And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
(32)  Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
(33)  And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
(34)  But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
(35)  And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
(36)  Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
(37)  For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
(38)  Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
(39)  But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
(40)  For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
(41)  And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

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Study Questions

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1. What promise to the Ephesians did Paul keep? Why ask if they had received the Holy Spirit? Verses 1-2.

2. What was defective about the baptism of the Ephesians? Verses 3-4.

3. When did the Ephesians receive the Holy Spirit and what evidence do we have of it? Verses 5-6.

4. Were the Jews sincere in asking Paul “to tarry longer time with them” on his first visit to Ephesus? Verses 7-8. (See Acts 18:19-20)

5. What happened at Ephesus that occurred at other places Paul preached? How effective was his preaching? Verses 9-10.

6. What “special” or unusual miracles occurred at Ephesus? In what way were the handkerchiefs and aprons of Paul like the hem of Jesus’ garment or the shadow of Peter? Verses 11-12.

7. How did gaining healing from Paul’s garments lead to the idea that the power of Jesus was unlimited? Verses 13-14.

8. At what point did surprise turn to fright for the vagabond Jews? Verses 15-16.

9. What happened when laughter over the incident turned to reverence for the Lord? Verses 17-18.

10. Since Ephesus has been represented as “the chief center of magic arts in the whole Roman Empire,” how do we know a great change or repentance was made? Verses 19-20.

11. What three places did Paul want to visit after leaving Ephesus? What place did he ultimately plan to visit? Verse 21.

12. What two people were sent to Macedonia? Why didn’t Paul leave immediately to go where he had planned? Verse 22. (See 1 Corinthians 16:8-9)

13. Who was Demetrius and what did he have to do with Diana? Verses 23-24.

14. What was Demetrius’ first concern? What was his second concern? Verses 25-26.

15. What caused the craftsmen and people of Ephesus to be so angry with Paul? Verses 27-28.

16. In what structure did the crowd gather? Why did they seize Gaius and Aristarchus? Why did Paul want to enter? Why didn’t he enter? Verses 29-30.

17. Who were these men who persuaded Paul not to enter? Why was the assembly confused? Verses 31-32.

18. How was the attempt by Alexander to defend the Jews frustrated? Verses 33-34.

19. How did the town clerk know it was an appropriate time to speak? Verse 35.

20. How did the town clerk handle the issue of religious pride? Verse 36.

21. Of what two things were Gaius and Aristarchus not guilty, according to the town clerk? Verse 37.

22. What was the solution for the grievances of Demetrius and the craftsmen? Verse 38.

23. How should other matters be determined? Why would it have been a serious matter if Roman authorities had accused them of riot? Verses 39-40.

Thought Question:
24. Who dismissed the assembly? Why the change of pronouns (from “we” to “he”)?